The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-06-08
NOT IN VAIN AFTER ALL.
A Correspondent and Artist Who 60 TO
See the Disabled Steamers.
Especial Correspondence


NEW York. June "A few days ago /
started out, accompanied by an artist, to get
sight Of the disabled steamers Celtic and
Britannia as they lay in the dock at Erie
bosin. South Brooklyn. We didn't see the
steamers though, for, TO all our pleadings. we
only got sour looks and surly words. The
emplove mt the gate could tell Us nothing,
except that his orders were positive, and
when we succeeded in finding al official, he
told US he wanted no pictures made and no
accounts written. and did not intend 10 have
any. don't you know We tried all the side
approaches without success investigated the
chances of getting in by water from the rear;
besieged the workmen at the nearest point on
the adjacent dock and even hinted at bribery
and cOrruptOn-in vain. The employees
knew their business, and the officials did not
intend 10 have any picture Of the damaged
steamer or any circumstantial account Of the
collision published Gin this blawsted place,
YOU know so we made a holiday Of it and
investigated the surrounding scenery
And first at Squattersvile, the most I'M
savOry of suburbs, built on dumped land re-
claimed from Gowanus bay. Travellers say
there is nothing TO beat it in the notorious
suburbs Of Cork or the far famed alleys Of
Belfast. When the solid wharves and dry
docks were built far out into the bay there
was left miserable region Of marsh, mud
and shallow water between them and the
nearest high land Into that vile depression
has been dumped for years the sweepimgs and
ashes. the old bricks and stable refuse and all
the umuamable debris Of the city, with an
occasional. very occasional cartl)ad Of
good, honest dirt from some adjacent
cellar: so there are low ridges and semi
detached islands all through the bog. And
on all these, as fast as the surface rose high
enough, the poorest Of the poor have built
cabius-hovels without parallel III America
of any and all conceivable substances. De
scripton is in vain; they must be seen TO be
appreciated Some are built entirely Of the
fragments Of dry goods boxes, others Of waste
stuff Ike lumber fshed out of the bog. or
/ poles and fragments of old vessels. but the
majority Of tin cans and abandoned sheath
/ ing One entire row appears 10 be made Of
/ oyster cans. the tin hattened out and roughly
| tackled over a rough frame Of broken planks !;
and i'm all thisrow is not one dwellngin which
/ a tall man could stand upright Yet children
/ abound in all sections Of Squattersville, and
| their playnates are hogs and goats.
/ Dogs are scarce, probably because the citizens
| are too poor 10 maintain them. In all the
| black and loathsome pools one may see wal
| lowing swine: and when row Of carts
arrive with fresh loads Of city refuse
/ the vile creatures plunge into it, root
| and riot awhile and then seek the shady
side Of their respective owners shan
/ ties for nooze. Goats abound i'm every
quarter Of S1uattersyille; and how they live
/ | can't imagine, but they do, ana thrive, and
| give milk which the little Squattervllians alb
sorb with relish 70 look at the scene as it
now appears under a warm June sun one
would say that certain death awaits all who
spend the summer there. Yet, strange
10 say, the Squattervillians are not
notably unhealthy The children even look
ruddv-as far as one can see the complexion
/ through the dirt To be sure, the citizens
enjoy q deal of fresh air; they spend their
summers by the seashore, as it We're without
the Worry of packing and removal or losing
the quiet and comfort Of home" About
some of the cabins small trees and shrubs are
growing, and a flower pot is occasionally
seen in "A window, showing that human taste
has survived after "A Sort despite the unes-
thetic surroundings.
Fortunately Squattersvile is not large
The land has no present value, and, until the
growth of the city shall make it profitable
to fin the slough with good earth and build
ON it, the squatters live rent free. That is,
they stay rent free; whether we can truly
say they live, is matter of doubt
J. II. PARKE